Exporting PCB to Gerber File?

[Anonymous]

I'm fresh to PCB design, and I just made my first PCB yesterday, and I wanted to export it to JLCPCB to get it shipped, but then it said it requires gerber files, and Fusion 360 doesn't appear to have an option for this, only listing .brd files. How can I get a gerber file for JLCPCB to accept? Thanks.

[jorge_garcia · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous,

I hope you're doing well. Go to the Manufacturing menu and click on the CAM export icon. That will generate the gerber files you need to send to JLCPCB.

Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,

[Anonymous]

Thanks! Why isn't this a default option when you in the "Export" drop down though? It seems many PCB manufacturing companies use gerber files when I searched around.

[jorge_garcia]

Hi @Anonymous,

The option I guided you to is the simplest possible and makes a TON of assumptions. In more general cases, generating gerber data can require setting up options for each file to conform to the requirements for the boardhouse. Those requirements would make gerber generation unsuitable for the export menu.

Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,

[Anonymous]

Hi guys,

i have a problem.

I designed a PCB and generated the gerber files with Fusion 360. Then i sent the data to JLCPCB and they told my, that my trace width is below their minimum.

The problem is, on my PC, everything is correct....but when they are opening my file, they have 5 mil traces (i designed 10 mils).

Whats the reason for that?

Thank you!

Sky

[vegardhumlen]

Did you find a solution to this problem?
I have exported many Gerber files successfully from Fusion 360 in the past, but in the last month, all my files are rejected from JLC because of the minimum size.

@jorge_garcia 

[Anonymous]

You can check out JLCPCB's page here for detailed instructions and the specific .cam, .dru and .ulp files that would be helpful in production. 

[Anonymous]

Hi,

yes-the solution is: your windows has to be set according to US standards (location, time, etc.).

Incredible for such an expensive system like fusion 360...

Sky

[jorge_garcia]

Hi @Anonymous ,

Technically, the fix for now is to use this environment variable on Windows.

Environment variable to fix comma issue
 
FORCE_DECIMAL_GERBER_OUTPUT
true

Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,

[contact3K8F2]

Hi @jorge_garcia,

thanks for the fix. Could you explain how exactly this Environment variable is set?
I just designed my first PCB and my files got rejected from JLCPCB because of the following issue:
"...

we can't import the files normally for there is no size data for the traces,

could you please transfer the files into Gerber 274X format and replace the file?"

I checked my settings and the CAM Processor was already set to Gerber RS-274X.

[jorge_garcia]

Hi @contact3K8F2 ,

I hope you're doing well. Here's some instructions on how to set up environment variables.

https://www.architectryan.com/2018/08/31/how-to-change-environment-variables-on-windows-10/

Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,

[contact3K8F2]

Thank you very much, my PCB order was successful.

[Anonymous]

Hello to all
unfortunately i have the same problem, that the trace width in JCB PCB is not transferred correctly. Could you please show exactly what i have to do with the system variable?
where can i set: FORCE_DECIMAL_GERBER_OUTPUT
true

(I'm using a "EU" windows 10)
thanks for your help 😃

[jorge_garcia]

Hi @Anonymous ,

Follow the directions in the link in post number 11 of this thread and restart Fusion 360.

Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,

[Anonymous]

work after adding the variable 😃

[jorge_garcia]

Hola @imanolarmenta45 ,

Dejame preguntarte, has hecho algun ajuste a la configuracion o simplemente hiciste clic en Tarea de proceso? Casi parace que Fusion esta tratando de guardar los archivos en el local cache. Algo que no deberia hacer.

Por favor informame de cualquier ajuste que hayas hecho. Si intentas procesar los gerbers con otro archivo te hace lo mismo? Otra idea, trata de generar los gerbers directamente. En la primera imagen donde muestras el menu, en vez de usar el primer icono, usar el tercero. Funciona ahora?

Saludos,

Jorge Garcia

[jorge_garcia]

Hola @imanolarmenta45 ,

Algo que pudieras probar. Trata de guardar el zip al desktop a ver si eso funciona.

Si no te deja escoger donde guardar el archivo entonces, no marques la caja de "Exportar como archivo Zip" y procesa la tarea de esa manera.

Dejame saber si continuas teniendo problemas.

Saludos,

[thomas_hutterXYR7B]

Hello,

maybe you could help me with my BOM and Pick and Place file.

I'm just done with designing my PCB but I needed nearly only headers and all headers I found in the library look like they are no "usefull". The BOM looked just ... useless. Are there any "good" headers? 

[jorge_garcia]

Hi @thomas_hutterXYR7B,

I hope you're doing well. Your going to have to export the BOM and then adjust the attributes in a program like CALC or EXCEL. The other option is to enter the attributes in your schematic so that when the BOM is generated the codes are there.

The default libraries are generic components so you won't find specific ordering information in them. We are working to improve the BOM experience. Thank you for your feedback.

Best Regards,

[colinNJB25]

Thank you @jorge_garcia, This has been very helpful. Having a library linked to one or more of the main suppliers would be amazing. I have to do a lot of work after the BOM is generated. I would like to do this work when I am making the schematic and all of the datasheets are open and I have part numbers handy.

Is there an easy way to do that? Let's say I have a 0804 capacitor, but I need a specific one, 50V NPO for instance. How can I specify that in the schematic and have it translate into the BOM?

Thank you,

Colin